Absorption and bioavailability of carotenoids, formulations and applications

Abstract

A process for obtaining a microscopic physical state of xanthophylls or oxycarotenoids derivatives forms such as diacetates or dipropionates derivatives, which are readily incorporated in the digestive system as micelles providing an improved bioavailability, as compared to the bioavailability of carotenoids that are ingested in diverse preparations that contain microscopic carotenoids crystals and a method for its application.

1. A process for obtaining stable microemulsions that are composed of a solubilizate of derivatives of oxycarotenoids of short chain organic acids, selected from the group consisting of diacetates and dipropionates of lutein, 3′epilutein, zeaxanthin, iso zeaxanthin, meso zeaxanthin, capsanthin, capsorubin, astaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin monoacetate and monopropionate, which are melted down from the naturally occurring original lipid vegetable matrix in the presence of lipids, phospholipids, fatty acids, emulsifiers and moisture, which process comprises the steps of:
 a) adding diacetate and dipropionate derivatives of said oxycarotenoids with sterols, fatty acids, lipids, phospholipids, emulsifiers, or mixtures thereof, derived from a vegetable matrix in a reactor; 
 b) raising the temperature of the reactor to about 60 to about 70° C.; 
 c) adding a surfactant to obtain a mixture of derivatives of oxycarotenoids and a surfactant; 
 d) stirring the mixture obtained in step c) for a period of time sufficient to homogenize the mixture; 
 e) adding to the mixture obtained in step d) from about 5% to about 50%, by weight, of a phospholipid; 
 f) stirring the mixture obtained in step e) for a period of time sufficient to homogenize the mix; 
 g) adding to the mixture obtained in step f) about 1% to about 40%, by weight, of water; and 
 h) raising the temperature of the mixture obtained in step g) to about 90 to about 110° C. while maintaining the pH at from about 5.5 to about 8.5 and refluxing the mixture for a period of time sufficient to melt the crystals of the oxycarotenoids derivatives in the non polar lipid matrix whereby microemulsions of the oxycarotenoids derivatives are formed. 
 
     
     
       2. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises from about 5 to 50%, by weight, of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene stearate, polyoxyethylene oleate polyoxyethylene laureates, sorbitan esters, poloxamers and tyloxapol, and polyoxy-ethylene fatty acid esters. 
     
     
       3. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid is selected from the group consisting of a zwitterionic surfactant; a surfactant consisting of about 70% phosphatidylcholine and 12% of a surfactant consisting of phosphatidylcholine, 18% phosphatidylethanolamine and 12% other phospholipids) or a purified egg yolk, or a surfactant consisting of about 50% phosphatidylcholine, 5% phosphatidylethanolamine, 3.6% non-polar lipids and about 2% sphingomyeline. 
     
     
       4. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step g) the soluble material comprises fatty acids selected from the group consisting of myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, sterols, methyl sterols, vegetable C 40 , C 42 , and C 46  waxes, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phospholipids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step h) the pH is maintained at about 6.5 to about 7.0. 
     
     
       6. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step h) is carried out in a vacuum. 
     
     
       7. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of derivatives of oxycarotenoids are dispersed in an aqueous or lipid media suitable for incorporation in human supplements or foods, or feeds for pets, poultry or aquatic animals. 
     
     
       8. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of derivatives of oxycarotenoids are dispersed in an aqueous or lipid media at a temperature of between about 40 to about 70° C. 
     
     
       9. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of derivatives of oxycarotenoids are dispersed in an aqueous or lipid media to improve the absorption and bioavailability of xanthophylls diacetates and dipropionates obtained from lutein, zeaxanthin, capsanthin and capsorubin for use in the pigmentation of the skin of broilers and egg yolks. 
     
     
       10. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of derivatives of oxycarotenoids are dispersed in an aqueous or lipid media to improve the absorption and bioavailability of the carotenoids derivatives obtained from lutein, zeaxanthin, capsanthin, capsorubin, and astaxanthin when incorporated in the feed of marine organisms. 
     
     
       11. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of oxycarotenoids derivatives are dispersed in lipids or water containing carotenoids derivatives obtained from lutein, 3′epilutein, zeaxanthin, isozeaxanthin, mesozeaxanthin, capsanthin, capsorubin, astaxanthin and cryptoxanthin, which can be administered to humans as a supplement to prevent and protect cells and tissues from the damaging effect of free radicals and singlet oxygen, as well as to prevent the risk of cancers and stroke. 
     
     
       12. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of diacetates and dipropionates of oxycarotenoids of lutein, 3′epilutein, zeaxanthin, isozeaxanthin are dispersed in fish oil with a high content of omega 3 fatty acids which aids in reducing the risk of macular degeneration and the formation of cataracts in humans when ingested. 
     
     
       13. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions containing oxycarotenoids derivatives of diacetates or dipropionates of lutein, 3′epilutein, zeaxanthin, Isozeaxanthin, are dispersed in fish oil with a high content of omega 3 fatty acids, whereby the cardiovascular health of humans is improved when ingested. 
     
     
       14. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the melting point of the oxycarotenoids are reduced by about 50 to about 116° C. with respect to the melting point of the pure carotenoid when the diacetate derivatives are incorporated in the process and the melting point of the oxycarotenoids is reduced by 30 to 50° C. with respect to the melting point of the pure carotenoid when propionate derivatives are incorporated in the process. 
     
     
       15. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions obtained can be reduced in size to obtain nanoemulsions by the use of intense high speed and high shear mechanical agitators, or by emulsifying machines operating at pressures of the order of about 3,000 to about 4,000 psi. 
     
     
       16. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the microemulsions of oxycarotenoids derivatives obtained from lutein, 3′epilutein, zeaxanthin, iso zeaxanthin, meso zeaxanthin, capsanthin, capsorubin, and astaxanthin are encapsulated by maltodextrins, sugars, animal, vegetable or fish gelatins, to prepare beadlets for supplementing human nutrition.